Things We Love - The Harley Davidson
November 26th 2010 00:59
Working from a 10 x 15-foot wooden shed with the words "Harley-Davidson Motor Company" crudely scrawled on the door and the first Harley-Davidson Dealer, C.H. Lang of Chicago opened his doors for busines, selling one of the first three production Harley-Davidson motorcycles ever made - the now legenary manufacturer not only created a name for itself in the early years for reliabilty and inventiveness but soon found favour as an iconic symbol for rebels and the free-spirited everywhere.
Finding the support of people such as the new young star Elvis Presley, who is shown here posing for the cover of the May Enthusiast sitting on a 1956 model KH through to the present day and the 'Governator' Arnold Schwarzenegger - the brand has stood the test of time in spite of sometimes more sinister overtones.
Of course with the unexpected success of the movie Wild Hogs a couple of years back - a new breed of middle-aged execs found an excuse to finally release their inner beast (and mid life crisis) and emulate either William H. Macy, John Travolta, Tim Allen or Martin Lawrence by going out and terrorising the burbs on Fat Boys and Sportsters.
The big break for the Harley Davidson however came in 1953 when it was cast alongside, or should I say under, Marlon Brando in The Wild One.
Hollywood however, has had a love hate relationship with this most unlikely of stars for more than half a century.
It unwittingly threw the spotlight on what had been an American standard of industry, only to demonize the name to the extent that The Harley Davidson Motor Company nearly went bankrupt.
Whilst commercially Harley Davidson was in trouble, its portrayal in movies continued to flourish. The notable peak in came in 1969 with the movie 'Easy Rider'.
As with most relationships though, time heals all and now the Harley enjoys space in rareified air and cult status.
Maybe Harleys executives still feel the pinch of the bad boy image and this is why they turned to Disney and Wild Hogs.
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